Pieta House reveals one person a day in Ireland died by suicide in 2018

Hundreds of pairs of shoes placed on the steps of St Peter’s church in Drogheda today in a ceremony organised by SOSAD Drogheda to remember those who have been lost to suicide to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Picture Ciara Wilkinson.

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"I think more people are reaching out and are accessing services and getting help."

She continued by saying that self-harm remains a big problem in Ireland.

Ms Raftery said: "The number of people that have died by suicide last year, there was a decrease last year, but we have also seen the number of people accessing our service has increased.

Hundreds of pairs of shoes placed on the steps of St Peter’s church in Drogheda today in a ceremony organised by SOSAD Drogheda to remember those who have been lost to suicide to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Picture Ciara Wilkinson.

"So the hope is that more people are reaching out for help, that we are finally trying to break that stigma where people are actually feeling comfortable in actually asking for help when they need it, which is really important."

Derek Devoy is a Kilkenny Taxi Driver and founder of Taxiwatch Ireland, a suicide prevention initiative within the Irish taxi community.

He wants people to seek training so they are prepared to help themselves and others in difficulty.

Hundreds of pairs of shoes placed on the steps of St Peter’s church in Drogheda today in a ceremony organised by SOSAD Drogheda to remember those who have been lost to suicide to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. Picture Ciara Wilkinson.

Mr Devoy said: "I would urge people to go and get training, it is free. There is a list of courses all over the country.

"People that aren't affected by suicide, don't know anything about it, so when it happens in their family they are completely shocked and they are taken aback by it."